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US$104
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BOOK TOUR
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OVERVIEW
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Follow your friendly local guide through the streets of Luang Prabang, then make your way along the Mekong River to the Buddha-filled caves of Pak Ou and visit a local ethnic minority village. Swim in the waters of the Kuang Si falls and meet endangered bears as you relax in the Laos countryside.
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HIGHLIGHT
• Travel up the Mekong River with local boat to the Buddha-filled caves of Pak Ou
• Visit a rural village where locals make rice wine and see how indigenous people live.
• Lunch at Tamarind restaurant with a fresh menu of Lao dishes
• Head to the stunning waterfalls of Kuang Si, one of the country's most picturesque destinations.
ITINERARY
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Day 0: Pak Ou Caves & Kuang Si Falls (Lunch)
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to a pier on the Mekong river for a private boat ride up the river.
Laos has several waterways that have traditionally been used as the local form of transportation and they continue to be used in that manner today in many parts of the country. Taking a local boat cruise is certainly the most rewarding ways to discover the life along the rivers. As you cruise along, observe the daily activities of fishermen, how they throw their nets in elegant arm gestures, and rely on the water for their livelihood. For the villages settled along the Mekong, the river plays an important role in their daily life and usually represents the only means of transportation and commerce.
Two hours upstream from Luang Prabang, disembark to visit the famous Pak Ou caves. Locally called Tam Ting, the caves are filled with thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues. The statues range in size from a few centimeters tall to the height of a human and are crammed into the cave which is nestled in a limestone cliff. The caves are a destination for local pilgrimages, especially around Pi Mai (Lao New Year, during April).
After visiting the caves, reboard the boat for a cruise back to Luang Prabang. En route, stop at Ban Xang Hay, a village which specializes in making traditional rice-wine.
Lunch at Tamarind restaurant (Note: closed on Sundays). Run by an Australian woman and her Lao husband, they have created a fresh menu of Lao dishes and are dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the local cuisine.
Take a short transfer through the Luang Prabang countryside to Kuang Si waterfalls (32 km southwest of the city). Along the way, you will drive through beautiful landscapes of rice fields, hills, and small villages. There are also viewpoints overlooking the Mekong River.
Stop en-route to visit a small village which is home to one of the area’s many ethnic minorities. You will have an opportunity to learn about their traditions and culture, much of which has remained unchanged for centuries.
Upon reaching Kuang Si Waterfall, relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The water tumbles down a large drop and cascades gently in to several cool, clear pools where you can enjoy a refreshing swim (please dress modestly).
For the adventurous, it is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where stunning views await you at the top.
You might also like to visit the bear sanctuary which is next to the falls, run by Free The Bears Fund Inc. There are currently 23 Asiatic Black Bears living in the sanctuary, which has saved them from poaching. The main threat to these bears is poaching due to the use of their bile in Chinese medicine. You can read about their habits and observe their playful nature, whilst learning about the difficulties they are facing.
After leisurely time at the waterfalls, transfer back to your hotel in Luang Prabang.
On the way back to Luang Prabang, you will stop at the Kuang Si Butterfly Park to visit the beautiful garden filled of hundreds of Laos’s butterflies! (Note: closed on Tuesday)
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INCLUSION
Meals
01 lunch
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Transport
Private transport by air-conditioned coach
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Accommodation
Not include
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Activities
Luang Prabang - Pak Ou caves - Kuang Si waterfalls
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Guide
English speaking local guide
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Price
* Any group size greater than 9 pax, please contact us at inbound.sgn@transviet.com for better quotation
* Date and time correspond to Vietnam time zone (GMT+7)
* All prices are quoted in US$
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